lavengro-第59章

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which　she　remembered　to　have　read　in　her　early　youth　in　the　primer；　

but　which　she　had　clean　forgotten　till　the　voice　the　night　before　

brought　it　to　her　recollection。



After　a　pause；　the　old　woman　said　to　me；　'I　believe；　dear；　that　it　

is　the　blessed　book　you　brought　me　which　has　wrought　this　goodly　

change。　　How　glad　I　am　now　that　I　can　read；　but　oh　what　a　

difference　between　the　book　you　brought　to　me　and　the　one　you　took　

away！　　I　believe　the　one　you　brought　is　written　by　the　finger　of　

God；　and　the　other　by　…　'



'Don't　abuse　the　book；'　said　I；　'it　is　an　excellent　book　for　those　

who　can　understand　it；　it　was　not　exactly　suited　to　you；　and　

perhaps　it　had　been　better　that　you　had　never　read　it　…　and　yet；　

who　knows？　　Peradventure；　if　you　had　not　read　that　book；　you　would　

not　have　been　fitted　for　the　perusal　of　the　one　which　you　say　is　

written　by　the　finger　of　God'；　and；　pressing　my　hand　to　my　head；　I　

fell　into　a　deep　fit　of　musing。　　'What；　after　all；'　thought　I；　'if　

there　should　be　more　order　and　system　in　the　working　of　the　moral　

world　than　I　have　thought？　　Does　there　not　seem　in　the　present　

instance　to　be　something　like　the　working　of　a　Divine　hand？　　I　

could　not　conceive　why　this　woman；　better　educated　than　her　mother；　

should　have　been；　as　she　certainly　was；　a　worse　character　than　her　

mother。　　Yet　perhaps　this　woman　may　be　better　and　happier　than　her　

mother　ever　was；　perhaps　she　is　so　already　…　perhaps　this　world　is　

not　a　wild；　lying　dream；　as　I　have　occasionally　supposed　it　to　be。'



But　the　thought　of　my　own　situation　did　not　permit　me　to　abandon　

myself　much　longer　to　these　musings。　　I　started　up。　　'Where　are　you　

going；　child？'　said　the　woman；　anxiously。　　'I　scarcely　know；'　said　

I；　'anywhere。'　　'Then　stay　here；　child；'　said　she；　'I　have　much　to　

say　to　you。'　　'No；'　said　I；　'I　shall　be　better　moving　about'；　and　I　

was　moving　away；　when　it　suddenly　occurred　to　me　that　I　might　never　

see　this　woman　again；　and　turning　round　I　offered　her　my　hand；　and　

bade　her　good…bye。　　'Farewell；　child；'　said　the　old　woman；　'and　God　

bless　you！'　　I　then　moved　along　the　bridge　until　I　reached　the　

Southwark　side；　and；　still　holding　on　my　course；　my　mind　again　

became　quickly　abstracted　from　all　surrounding　objects。



At　length　I　found　myself　in　a　street　or　road；　with　terraces　on　

either　side；　and　seemingly　of　interminable　length；　leading；　as　it　

would　appear；　to　the　south…east。　　I　was　walking　at　a　great　rate　…　

there　were　likewise　a　great　number　of　people；　also　walking　at　a　

great　rate；　also　carts　and　carriages　driving　at　a　great　rate；　and　

all　…　men；　carts；　and　carriages　…　going　in　the　selfsame　direction；　

namely　to　the　south…east。　　I　stopped　for　a　moment　and　deliberated　

whether　or　not　I　should　proceed。　　What　business　had　I　in　that　

direction？　　I　could　not　say　that　I　had　any　particular　business　in　

that　direction；　but　what　could　I　do　were　I　to　turn　back？　only　walk　

about　well…known　streets；　and；　if　I　must　walk；　why　not　continue　in　

the　direction　in　which　I　was　to　see　whither　the　road　and　its　

terraces　led？　　I　was　ere　in　a　TERRA　INCOGNITA；　and　an　unknown　place　

had　always　some　interest　for　me；　moreover；　I　had　a　desire　to　know　

whither　all　this　crowd　was　going；　and　for　what　purpose。　　I　thought　

they　could　not　be　going　far；　as　crowds　seldom　go　far；　especially　at　

such　a　rate；　so　I　walked　on　more　lustily　than　before；　passing　group　

after　group　of　the　crowd；　and　almost　vying　in　speed　with　some　of　

the　carriages；　especially　the　hackney…coaches；　and；　by　dint　of　

walking　at　this　rate；　the　terraces　and　houses　becoming　somewhat　

less　frequent　as　I　advanced；　I　reached　in　about　three…quarters　of　

an　hour　a　kind　of　low　dingy　town；　in　the　neighbourhood　of　the　

river；　the　streets　were　swarming　with　people；　and　I　concluded；　from　

the　number　of　wild…beast　shows；　caravans；　gingerbread　stalls；　and　

the　like；　that　a　fair　was　being　held。　　Now；　as　I　had　always　been　

partial　to　fairs；　I　felt　glad　that　I　had　fallen　in　with　the　crowd　

which　had　conducted　me　to　the　present　one；　and；　casting　away　as　

much　as　I　was　able　all　gloomy　thoughts；　I　did　my　best　to　enter　into　

the　diversions　of　the　fair；　staring　at　the　wonderful　

representations　of　animals　on　canvas　hung　up　before　the　shows　of　

wild　beasts；　which；　by　the　bye；　are　frequently　found　much　more　

worthy　of　admiration　than　the　real　beasts　themselves；　listening　to　

the　jokes　of　the　merry…andrews　from　the　platforms　in　front　of　the　

temporary　theatres；　or　admiring　the　splendid　tinsel　dresses　of　the　

performers　who　thronged　the　stages　in　the　intervals　of　the　

entertainments；　and　in　this　manner；　occasionally　gazing　and　

occasionally　listening；　I　passed　through　the　town　till　I　came　in　

front　of　a　large　edifice　looking　full　upon　the　majestic　bosom　of　

the　Thames。



It　was　a　massive　stone　edifice；　built　in　an　antique　style；　and　

black　with　age；　with　a　broad　esplanade　between　it　and　the　river；　on　

which；　mixed　with　a　few　people　from　the　fair；　I　observed　moving　

about　a　great　many　individuals　in　quaint　dresses　of　blue；　with　

strange　three…cornered　hats　on　their　heads；　most　of　them　were　

mutilated；　this　had　a　wooden　leg　…　this　wanted　an　arm；　some　had　but　

one　eye；　and　as　I　gazed　upon　the　edifice；　and　the　singular…looking　

individuals　who　moved　before　it；　I　guessed　where　I　was。　　'I　am　at　…　

'　said　I；　'these　individuals　are　battered　tars　of　Old　England；　and　

this　edifice；　once　the　favourite　abode　of　Glorious　Elizabeth；　is　

the　refuge　which　a　grateful　country　has　allotted　to　them。　　Here　

they　can　rest　their　weary　bodies；　at　their　ease　talk　over　the　

actions　in　which　they　have　been　injured；　and；　with　the　tear　of　

enthusiasm　flowing　from　their　eyes；　boast　how　they　have　trod　the　

deck　of　fame　with　Rodney；　or　Nelson；　or　others　whose　names　stand　

emblazoned　in　the　naval　annals　of　their　country。'



Turning　to　the　right；　I　entered　a　park　or　wood　consisting　of　

enormous　trees；　occupying　the　foot；　sides；　and　top　of　a　hill　which　

rose　behind　the　town；　there　were　multitudes　of　people　among　the　

trees；　diverting　themselves　in　various　ways。　　Coming　to　the　top　of　

the　hill；　I　was　present'　y　stopped　by　a　lofty　wall；　along　which　I　

walked；　till；　coming　to　a　small　gate；　I　passed　through；　and　found　

myself　on　an　extensive　green　plain；　on　one　side　bounded　in　part　by　

the　wall　of　the　park；　and　on　the　others；　in　the　distance；　by　

extensive　ranges　of　houses；　to　the　south…east　was　a　lofty　eminence；　

partially　clothed　with　wood。　　The　plain　exhibited　an　animated　

scene；　a　kind　of　continuation　of　the　fair　below；　there　were　

multitudes　of　people　upon　it；　many　tents；　and　shows；　there　was　also　

horse…racing；　and　much　noise　and　shouting；　the　sun　shining　brightly　

overhead。　　After　gazing　at　the　horse…racing　for　a　little　time；　

feeling　myself　somewhat　tired；　I　went　up　to　one　of　the　tents；　and　

laid　myself　down　on　the　grass。　　There　was　much　noise　in　the　tent。　　

'Who　will　stand　me？'　said　a　voice　with　a　slight　tendency　to　lisp。　　

'Will　you；　my　lord？'　　'Yes；'　said　another　voice。　　Then　there　was　a　

sound　as　of　a　piece　of　money　banging　on　a　table。　　'Lost！　lost！　

lost！'　cried　several　voices；　and　then　the　banging　down　of　the　

money；　and　the　'lost！　lost！　lost！'　were　frequently　repeated；　at　

last　the　second　voice　exclaimed；　'I　will　try　no　more；　you　have　

cheated　me。'　　'Never　cheated　any　one　in　my　life；　my　lord　…　all　fair　

…　all　chance。　　Them　that　finds；　wins　…　them　that　can't　finds；　

loses。　　Anyone　else　try？　　Who'll　try？　　Will　you；　my　lord？'　and　then　

it　appeared　that　some　other　lord　tried；　for　I　heard　more　money　

flung　down。　　Then　again　the　cry　of　'lost！　lost！'　…　then　again　the　

sound　of　money；　and　so　on。　　Once　or　twice；　but　not　more；　I　heard　

'Won！　won！'　but　the　predominant　cry　was　'Lost！　lost！'　　At　last　

there　was　a　considerable　hubbub；　and　the　words　'Cheat！'　'Rogue！'　

and　'You　filched　away　the　pea！'　were　used　freely　by　more　voices　

than　one；　to　which　the　voice　with　the　tendency　to　lisp　replied；　

'Never　filched　a　pea　in　my　life；　would　scorn　it。　　Always　glad　when　

folks　wins；　but；　as　those　here　don't　appear　to　be　civil；　not　to　

wish　to　play　any　more；　I　shall　take　myself　off　with　my　table；　so；　

good…day；　gentlemen。'







CHAPTER　LIII







Singular　table　…　No　money　…　Out　of　employ　…　My　bonnet　…　We　of　the　

thimble　…　Good　wages　…　Wisely　resolved　…　Strangest　way　in　the　world　

…　Fat　gentleman　…　Not　such　another　…　First　edition　…　Not　very　easy　

…　Won't　close　…　Avella　gorgio　…　Alarmed　look。



PRESENTLY　a　man　emerged　from　the　tent；　bearing　before　him　a　rather　

singular　table；　it　appeared　to　be　of　white　deal；　was　exceedingly　

small　at　the　top；　and　with　very　long　legs。　　At　a　few　yards　from　the　

entrance　he　paused；　and　looked　round；　as　if　to　decide　on　the　

direction　which　he　should　take；　presently；　his　eye　glancing　on　me　

as　I　lay　upon　the　ground；　he　started；　and　appeared　for　a　moment　

inclined　to　make　off　as　quick　as　possible；　table　and　all。　　In　a　

moment；　however；　he　seemed　to　recover　assurance；　and；　coming　up　to　

the　place　where　I　was；　the　long　legs　of　the　table　projecting　before　

him；　he　cried；　'Glad　to　see　you　here；　my　lord。'



'Thank　you；'　said　I；　'it's　a　fine　day。'



'Very　fine；　my　lord；　will　your　lordship　play？　　Them　that　finds；　

wins　…　them　that　don't　finds；　loses。'



'Play　at　what？'　said　I。



'Only　at　the　thimble　and　pea；　my　lord。'



'I　never　heard　of　such　a　game。'



'Didn't　you？　　Well；　I'll　soon　teach　you；'　said　he；　placing　the　

table　down。　　'All　you　have　to　do　is　to　put　a　sovereign　down　on　my　

table；　and　to　find　the　pea；　which　I　put　under　one　of　my　thimbles。　　

If　you　find　it；　…　and　it　is　easy　enough　to　find　it；　…　I　give　you　a　

sovereign　besides　your　own：　　for　them　that　finds；　wins。'



'And　them　that　don't　finds；　loses；'　said　I；　'no；　I　don't　wish　to　

play。'



'Why　not；　my　lord？'



'Why；　in　the　first　place；　I　have　no　money。'



'Oh；　you　have　no　money；　that　of　course　alters　the　case。　　If　you　

have　no　money；　you　can't　play。　　Well；　I　suppose　I　must　be　seeing　

after　my　customers；'　said　he；　glancing　over　the　plain。



'Good…day；'　said　I。



'Good…day；'　said　the　man　slowly；　but　without　moving；　and　as　if　in　

reflection。　　After　a　moment　or　two；　looking　at　me　inquiringly；　he　

added；　'Out　of　employ？'



'Yes；'　said　I；　'out　of　employ。'



The　man　measured　me　with　his　eye　as　I　lay　on　the　ground。　　At　length　

he　said；　'May　I　speak　a　word　or　two　to　you；　my　lord？'



'As　many　as　you　please；'　said　I。



'Then　just　come　a　little　out　of　hearing；　a　little　farther　on　the　

grass；　if　you　please；　my　lord。'



'Why　do　you　call　me　my　lord？'　said　I；　as　I　arose　and　followed　him。



'We　of　the　thimble　always　calls　our　customers　lords；'　said　the　man；　

'but　I　won't　call　you　such　a　foolish　name　any　more；　come　along。'



The　man　walked　along　the　plain　till　he　came　to　the　side　of　a　dry　

pit；　when；　looking　round　to　see　that　no　one　was　nigh